Information skills for research

http:// unihub.mdx.ac.uk / study / library

CMT3350 Feb 2014

In this workshop we will look at...• Developing an effective search strategy

• Resources available and how to use them…..now and in the future

• Evaluating information for quality and relevance

Example of coursework marking criteria

10% Introduction

15% Overview

30% Critical analysis

15% Discussion

10% Conclusion

10% Referencing

10% Quality etc

Maximum marks for a well referenced and accurate description of [subject] using suitable references

Maximum of 10 marks for a list of references which is both relevant, and correctly given in Harvard style

Maximum of 10 marks for quality, style of writing and presentation

Using the right information for your project

Reference list

• Quality or resources

• Range of resources

• Academic quality

• Currency

• Relevance

• Correctly referenced

The right information

Find out moreMyUniHub > MyStudy > MyLibrary > Library Subject Guides

http://libguides.mdx.ac.uk/EIS

Thinking about keywords

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rossjamesparker/89414788/

The real thing

• Keywords

• Alternative keywords

• More specific keywords

• Related subjects

• Other ideas

• Useful Resources

So far so good

So far we’ve looked at:

• Choosing the right resource

• Developing a search strategy

• Coming up with useful keywords

Next:

• Searching, evaluation, and looking to the future

Finding resourcesmyUniHub > My Study > My Library > Summon

Select Summon and search for information for your project.

Journal DatabasesmyUniHub > My Study > My Library > Databases

Choose ‘Computing Science’ for a list of relevant journal databases

Summon and journal databases provide:

• Access to quality information

• Information not available elsewhere

• Up-to-date

• Focussed/specific

• Full-text access

• Access on/off campus

• Personalize

• Citation and journal impact info

Get online help using resourcesMyUniHub > MyStudy > MyLibrary > Library Subject Guides > Computing

http://libguides.mdx.ac.uk/EIS

It’s not in the Library!• Inter Library Loans http://bit.ly/InterLibraryLoans

• Sconul Access http://www.access.sconul.ac.uk/sconul-access

• Other libraries http://bit.ly/visitingotherlibraries

Is it reliable?

• Authority• Relevance• Intent• Objectivity• Currency

Evaluating information

Example of coursework marking criteria

10% Introduction

15% Overview

30% Critical analysis

15% Discussion

10% Conclusion

10% Referencing

10% Quality etc

Maximum marks for a well referenced and accurate description of [subject] using suitable references

Maximum of 10 marks for a list of references which is both relevant, and correctly given in Harvard style

Maximum of 10 marks for quality, style of writing and presentation

Library Subject GuidesmyUniHub > My Study > My Library > Library Subject Guides

http://libguides.mdx.ac.uk/plagiarismreferencing

http://libguides.mdx.ac.uk/eis

Keeping in touch• Blog http://satlibrarian.blogspot.com

• Twitter http://twitter.com/SATlibrarian

• Library Facebook Middlesex University Library

• Library Twitter http://twitter.com/MDXLibrary

Need further help?

Your Librarian is:Vanessa Hill v.hill@mdx.ac.uk

http://unihub.mdx.ac.uk/support/unihelp/